Agents of Change for Gender Violence Prevention

Despite the unprecedented journey of 2020 and thanks to the support of our donors, we were able to support 332 families of our Training for Work Program (CAPTA) in the purchase of food and medicines. This financial support was accompanied by an all virtual psycho-development program that included raising awareness on issues of domestic violence, and training women in psychological, emotional and entrepreneurial skills. Furthermore, the pandemic made us realize that we needed to generate spaces for connection between the alumni and their communities.

At the end of 2020 and in collaboration with the French Embassy in Panama, we designed the project The Ambassadors Network for the Prevention of Gender Violence. A project to fight violence against women in the context of COVID-19. During the implementation of the program in the month of November 2020, we selected 10 alumni to be trained as Agents of Change with the goal of directly taking the message of gender violence prevention to 750 people, where each was asked to target a minimum of 75 people from their local community to be trained through a virtual presentation. The training was supported by a 5-week campaign managed through our social platforms including 10 posters and 10 videos that complemented the work of the Ambassadors. In addition, we hosted various live events through our live segment Espacio Positivo alongside gender and social experts.

Through this initial project, we were able to strengthen ties with our alumni by highlighting the potential that exists in them, and facilitating a space that allows us to continue leveraging their personal and professional development. This year, the Foundation continues to work towards raising 9,500 USD in funds to consolidate this microproject into a year-long program.

As of today, Fundación Calicanto has 350 active alumni women from Panama. Our alumni are the ideal human capital on which we could rely to convey this message [of gender violence], highlighting their own experiences and what they learned during the CAPTA course. "Only a woman can understand through her own empathy, her rights and her needs, where to take the message of gender violence prevention."

You can continue to support this microproject by ensuring more women receive the skills they need to become agents of change in their communities by also supporting our main project Fight Poverty: Educate Women in Panama.